Machine for making fiber reed



Aug. 14, 1928.

E. F. BALDWIN ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1926 E. F. BALDWIN ET AL' MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED Filed March 25, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 .2976 27am; flan/v .F' Wald Aug. 14, 1928.

E. F; BALDWIN ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED Filed March 25, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. F. BALDWIN ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKINGFIBER REED Filed March 25, 1926 Aug. M, 1928,

Aug. 14, 1928. 1,689,358

E. F. BALDWIN ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED Filed March 25, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. 14, 1928. Lfi8358 E. F. BALDWIN ET AL V MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED Filed March 25, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aug. 14, 1928.

E. F. BALDWIN ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED Filed March 25, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 N Qw Patented dlug. 14, 1928.

Pica.

' EARL E. BALDWIN AND FRANK E. woons, or GARDNER, MAsSAcHusETTs, AssIeNoEs To AMERICAN EIEEE CORPORATION, or GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS, A oonrona TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED. I

Application filed March 25, 1926. Serial No. 97,468.

This invention relates to a machine for manufacturing fiber reed, a product which has come into wide use as a substitute for flat reed in weaving coverings for baby carriages and other similar articles. In the manufacture of such fiber reed, a strip of strongheavy fiber, such as kraft paper, is first folded lengthwise, and the folded paper is then firmly pressed into the form of a straight strip of fiber reed of reduced width but of increased thickness. The strip is gummed to preserve its tightly folded condition. v ,Itis the general object of our invention to provide an improved machine for the manufactureof such fiber reed, said machine involvingmany novel features of construction and operation, and having its component parts assembled to form fiber reed by a new and improved process.

' One important feature of our invention relates to the provision of an improved mechanism for folding, breaking down and press ing the fiber soon after it enters the machine.

Our invention also includes novel unfolding and gumming mechanism, novel refolding and repressing mechanism and an improved winding mechanism, all of which togcther with our improved process, are described but not claimedherein and form the subject matter of" additional applications filed herewith. Certain features of the fold ing and pressing mechanism have'been presented in a divisional application, Serial No. 260,157, filed March 8, 1928.

Our invention further relates to certain arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 1'

Drawings v .A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of our improved machine for making fiber reed;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. '3 is a plan view of the fiber supply mechanism or reel;

Fig; 4 is a partial side elevation thereof, looking in the direction of the arrow 4: in Fig. 3;

Fig.5 is a detail end elevation of the retarding and friction device, looking in the direction ofthe arrow 5 in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are a side elevation and plan of the parts shown in Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows 6 and 7 in said figure;

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional one of the roll supports;

F 1g. 9 is an enlarged plan View of the folding, unfolding, and gumming mechanism forming a portion of our improved machine;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the same parts, taken along the line 10-1O in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional elevation, taken along the line 1111 in Fig. 10

Fig. 12 is a partial end elevation of a belt tightening device by which the operation of view showing the machine is controlled, taken along the line 12-12 in Fig. 2; V

. Fig. 13 is an enlarged longitudinal section showing the folding, pressing and sizing mechanism; I y

F ig. 14 is a detail plan. view of the parts of the folding mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrow 14 in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an end elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 15 in Fig. 13;

F 16is a' partial end elevation of the L guide-plates for the presser rolls, looking in the direction of the arrow 16 in Fig. 13; Fig. 17 is an end View of one of the foldmg trumpets, looking in the direction of the arrow 17 in Fig. 18;

Fig. 18 is a sectional plan view of the ip umpet, taken along the line 18-18 in Fig.

' Fig. 19 is a plan view of one of the unfolding devices;

Fig. 20 is a side elevation thereof, taken along the line 20-20 in Fig. 19

Fig.21 is a plan view of aguide and scraperby which Surplus gum is removed from the. fiber strip; v Figs. 22, 28, 24 and 25 are sectional views illustrating successive steps in the folding andunfolding of the ungummed fiber;

" F ig. 26is an enlarged view of the refolding, pressing and winding mechanism;

Fig. 26 is a detail perspective view of one of the guide arms for the winding mechanism;

Fig- 27 is an enlarged sectional elevation refolding devices, looking in the directionof the refolding and repressing mechanism, taken along the line 27-27 in Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 is an end elevation of the repressing 1nechanism, lookingin the direction of the'arrow 28 in Fig. 27 V c Fig. 29 is a partial plan view of a guide and stripping device, looking in the direction of the arrow 29 in Fig. 27;

Fig. 30 is a plan view of certain of the refolding devices, looking in the direction of the arrow 30 in Fig. 2

' Fig. 31 is a side elevation of a pair of of the arrow31in Fig. 30;

Fig. 32, 32 and 33 show additional steps in the formation of the finished reed;

Fig. 34 is a sectional elevation of one of the winding reels;

Fig. 35 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line 3535 in Fig. 34;

Fig. 36 is aip'artial end elevation of certain driving mechanism for the winding reels, taken along the line 3636'in Fig. 26;

Fig. 37 is an enlarged elevation of the traverse feed of the winding mechanism; and I A i f Fig. 38 is a'detailview of a shipper handle to be described. I I

General operation.

It is believed that the construction of our improved reed-malri'ng machine will be more easily understood after abrief consideration of the general system of operation. Referring to Fig. '1, our improved machine comprises a series of co-operating mechanisms III as follows:A fibersupplying mechanism 7 A, a folding mechanism B, a pressing and sizing mechanism C, an unfolding mechanism D, a gumming and scraping mechanism E, a drying portion F, a refolding and repressing mechanism G, and a winding mechanism H.

The fiber is supplied in the form of large rolls B, each comprising a'very great length of fiber of a comparatively narrow width. A succession of these rolls R are mounted in the supply mechanism A and the ungummed fiber strips are led therefrom through trumpetsin the folding mechanism B to grooved and ribbed presser rollsin the pressing and sizing mechanism C. The fiber strips are drawn through'the folding trumpets by the presser rolls and are delivered from the rolls 7 in folded condition and of exact width, with the fiber well broken down at the folds but still in an ungummed condition. The folded fiber is then unfolded by the mechanism D and in its unfolded condition passes over The gumming mechanism E and the refolding and repressing mechanism G are spaced substantially apart to provide a drying portion F in which the freshly gummed fiber has a chance to partially dry and'become very stickyor tacky before it passes through the refolding and repressing mechanism G. i i

In this mechansim, a pair. of cooperating folding rolls, preferably mounted on vertical axes, are provided for loosely refolding the fiber reed, after which itis drawn through a second set of grooved and ribbed presser rolls by which it is again sized and firmly pressed and'from which it isdelivered in finished condition to the winding '-II16Cl1L- nism H.

The fiber from which the reed is made is of stiff and heavy material and it has been found impractical to gum and fold the fiber at a single operation. \Ve have discovered, however, that very satlsfactory results may be obtained by first folding and firmly pressing the fiber in an ungummed condition, thus The supply mechanism A is'indicated generally in Figs. 1 and 2 and is shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 8 inclusive. Each roll R is mounted upon a stud 40 (Fig. 8) in the side of a supporting bar 41 which is detachably secured'in position by cross bars 42 and 43 mounted in fixed position on the frame Mfof the machine. g The supporting bars 41 are provided with notches as indicated in Fig. 2 to fit'the cross bars 42 and 43. 'Any one of the bars 41 may be easily removed by raising the outer end of the bar and then removing the same endwise from the supporting frame. In this way, any one of the rolls R maybe quickly and easily replaced. V g

Vi e have also providedmeans for frictionally retarding the feed from each separate roll R. For this purpose, we provide weights 44 having grooves 45 in their side faces to receive guide rods 46 fixed in the supporting bars 41 and extending upwardly therefrom. A tie rod 47 joins the two outer rods 46 and holdsthe entire series of weights in the desired relationship. Friction springs 49 are pivoted at 50011 each weight 44and yieldingly engage the two parallel sides :ofithe roll R. the springs being self-centering on their pivots 50. I

As the rolls decrease in size, the. weights 44slide downward between the guidev rods 46 and the springs 49 retain their operative frictional relation to the rolls R. Rotation of therolls is-thus retarded both by the yield ing pressure of the springs 49 and by the gravity pressure of the weights 44.

Fe Zding mechanism.

The strips S of fiber are drawn from the rolls R and are then acted upon bythe folding mechanism B shown generally in Figs. 9 and 10 and in detail in F igs. 13 to 18.

j Our improved folding mechanism com prises a series of trumpets mounted in a cross bar 56 detachably secured to the frame M by bolts 57 9) extending through leaves 'the roll- R in the fiat condition indicated in Fig. 22, will be delivered from Q the trumpet 55 in the partiallyfolded condition indicated in Fig. 23.

A plug or anvil 58 isprovided for each trumpet 55, the anvil being of substantial circular cross section and having a tapered and rounded outer end projecting into the open rear end of its trumpet 55 as indicated in Fig. 13. Ea.chanvil 58 is mounted on a bracket 59 which is forked at its lower end to slip over the cross bar 56 which supports the trumpets. A lug .60- (Fig. 13) is provided on the cross bar for eachbraclret' 59 and enters arecess therein to correctly position the bracket and anvil inrelation to the associated trumpet. Each bracket is thus readily removable from the cross bar, thus permitting the machine to be easily cleaned or inspected. Each anvil 58 is secured to its bracket 59 by a suitable binding screw 61.

A guide-plate 62 15) is provided for each trumpet 55, said guide-plate being recessed to provide glllCllIlgjJOltlOIlS 63 engaging the opposite edges of the fiber strip 7 S. Each guide-plate is pivoted to its corresponding bracket 59 and is secured in adjusted angular position by a clamping screw 64. Each bracket 59 1S. also provided with a slightly depressed upper edge portion 65 over which the strips is drawn. 7

The guide-plates '62 are very important elements of our invention, as it is desirable that the reed when folded shall have the section shown in Fig. 24, with the edge of the outer folded layer exactly aligned with the edge of the reed. This alignment is of course controlled by the position of the longitudinal fold linesand the positionof these fold lines maybe-varied transversely according to the adjustment ofthe guideplate 62. By slightly adjusting the guideplate to one side or' the other, theedge of the outer fold may be easily positioned to exactly co-incide with the edge of the reed.

Pressing and sizing mechanism.

The pressing and sizing mechanism C is indicated generally in Figs. 9 to 11 and cer tain details thereof are best shown in Figs. 13 and 16.

This mechanism comprises a lower presser roll and an upper presser roll 71. The lower roll 70 is provided with a groove 72 for each folding trumpet 55 and the upper roll 71 is provided with corresponding ribs 73. j

Each folded strip S is delivered direct from one of the trumpets 55 to one of the grooves 72, as'elea-rly shown in Fig. 13, and is compressed firmly in the bottom of the groove by a corresponding rib 73 on the upper presser roll 71.

This operation brea rs down the stifi heavy fiber at the fold lines, and also accurately sizes the fiber reed, the final width thereof being determined by the width of the groove 72, as the flattening of the reed causes it to expand laterally to the extreme limits of the groove 72 in which it is confined.

Guide members 74 (Fig. 16) are mounted upon a cross bar 75, which crossbar is secured by bolts 76 (Fig. 9) to the bearing blocks 77 of the upper roll 71. These guide members 74 are of segmental shape and are provided with recesses 78 at their lower edges through which the folded strips S are guided to the grooves 72. The guide nienr here 74 are also provided with segmental rooves 79 (Fig. 16) to clear the ribs 73 of Fhe presser roll 71.

Springs 80 (F 10) support the journal boxes 81 in the upper bearing blocks 77 and set screws 82 and lock nuts 83 are provided for forcing the boxes 81 positively downward tothe desired spaced relation with the lower roll 70. The rolls are to be adjusted sothat the space between the ribs 73 and the bottoms of the groove 72 is just suffieient to permit passage of the folded and compressed fiber reed.

A stripper plate 85 (Figs. 9, 10, and 13) is detachably secured adjacent the presser rolls by bolts 86 (Fig. 9). The stripper Unfolding mechanism.

The unfolding mechanism D is clearly shown in Flgs. 9, 19, and 20, and comprises a series of unfolding devices 90 secured to a shown in Fig. 25, being substantially flat but being provided with well defined fold lines. along which the strip may be easily refolded.

. Gumming mechanism. 7

The gumming or gluing mechanism E is 1 best shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and comprises a freely rotatable drum mounted on pivot bearings 96 and having its lower portion d pping into the gum or glue L conta ned 1n a tank 97 (Fig. 10). A deflectorplate98 is placed in the bottom of the tank 97 to cause the gum or glue to follow the surface of the drum upward and insure complete coating thereof. The gum is kept hot by a jacket J beneath the tank and heated by steam or hot ater.

A scraper 99 is adjustably secured by bolts 100 (Fig. 9,) adjacent the drum 95 and may be adjusted to leave any desired thickness or coating of gum on the drum.

Thestrips S of unfolded fiber are drawn from the unfolding devices 90 over the drum 95 as indicated in Fig. 10 and the under surface of each strip is thoroughly coated with gum or glue. The strips S then pass under separate guide rods 101 (Fig. 21) mounted on a fixed cross bar 102 (Fig. 9) secured to the frame F. j

'The upper edge of the cross bar 102 is sharply bevelled, as indicated in Fig. 10, and

forms a second guide and also acts as a scraper by which the surplus gum on the strips S is caused to fall back into the tank 9.?" V g l teference to Fig. 9 will showthat the strips S are deflected downward by the guide rods 101 and upward by-the scraper 102, thus insuring firm contact of the strips with thescraper as they are drawn therethrough.

Drying portion.

The refolding and repressing mechanism G is spaced apart from the gumming mecha nism E a distance suffic ent to provide adrying portion F of such length that the strips S ;n being drawn from the gumming mechanism to the refolding devices will have sufficient time to become partially dried, reaching the refolding devices in a very sticky or tacky condition. The distance between the mechanisms E and G is not shown to scale'in Figs. 1 and 2', but in'the actual machine is something like eight 'orten feet.

When the machine is s opped, it is desirable that the fiber strips shall be raised clear of .the gumming drum 95 and for this purpose we provide a U-shaped support 105 (Figs. 9 and 10) which is normally in the inoperative position shown in Fig.10, but whichmay be swung upward to the dotted lineposition to hold the strips-01f of the drum when the machine is not in use or when it is desired to remove and clean'the drum.

Ref oldz'ng cmcl repressing mechanism.

The refolding and repressing mechanism G is best shown in Figs. 28 and '31 The strips S, having become partially dried-and very sticky, are'drawn over afixed guideplate (Fig. 27) and then pass between a pair of refolding rolls 111 and 112, mounted upon vertical studs or bearings 113 in a cross bar 114. bolted to the frame M or the machine; The rolls 111and 112 are preferably. formed of some noncorrosive metal such as brass and rotate freely upon their pivot studs 113; It will be understood that a pair of rolls 111 and 112 is provided for each strip of fiberS.

Each roll 111 is provided with a groove 115 and each roll 112 isprovided'with a thin flange or rib 116 extending into the groove 115 and adjacent the lower portion thereof.

As'the unfolded and gumme-d strip S is drawn between the rolls 111 and 112, the strip is refolded to the shape shown in Fig.

'32, with the lower fold passing under the flange 116, and with the upper and middle folds passing above the flange 116. V The refolding device thus described is eifectiveto very quickly and easily refold the fiber strip'and is of such a construction that it is not easily obstructed by the gum and loose fiberwhich isade'tached from the partiallydried and sticky strips as they are pulled between the refolding rolls.

As the strips S pass from the rolls 111 and 112 they enter the f grooves 120 of a lower repressing roll 121. A narrow 'upper presser 1 011122 is provided for each strip S and groove 120 and presses the refolded strip firmly i'ntothe bottom of the groove 120.

Each upper roll 122 is preferably mounted upon an anti-friction bearing 123 at the lower end of a vertically movable guide-bar 124; andeach guide bar 7124: is'slidable in a vertical slot in a fixed cross bar 125 beingheld-therein by a cover plate 126. i

A heavy coil spring 127 'is attached to a stud 128 at the upper end'of each guide-bar 124 and-at its lower'end, each spring is secured to the cross bar 125. The springs 127 thus act to press the u-pper rolls firmly downward into the grooves of the lower roll 121. V

A release lever 130 is pivoted to each and raise and hold the corresponding presser "roll out of its groove 120. This feature is very desirable when it is necessary to rethread the fibre through the machfne.

- The grooved roll 121, cooperating with the upper presser rolls 122, not only draws the strips-through the refolding rolls and presses thegummed layers of fiber firmly together, but also acts to re-size' the-fiber, delivering a finished reed of uniform width. As the reed leaves the bite of the repressing rolls, it is engaged by fingers133 (Fig. 29) on a strip per plate 134 which clears the strips from thegroves in the lower roll.

7 Winding mechanism. 1 As thest-rips S- leave the refolding and repressing mechanism Gr, they are delivered to the winding mechanism H, shown generally 1n Figs. 1 and 2 in Fig. 26 and in Figs. 34 to 38.

The winding mechanism is especially de signed to receive thefinishe d fiber reeds from a plurality of refolding and repressing de vices and towlnd eachreed upon a separate reel or spool. For this purpose I haveprovided a winding table provided with bearings 141 (Fig; 34) for a plurality of vertical winding shafts 142, corresponding in number to the number of folding, and repressing devices. p

The shafts 142 are provided at their lower refolding endswith bevel gears 143 meshing with corresponding bevel gears 144 on a horizontal shaft 145 supported in bearings below the table 140. The driving connections for the shaft 145 will be hereinafter described. 7

A disc 146 (Fig. 34) is secured to each verticalshaft 142 and rotates therewith in a recess 147 in the top of the table. A driving ring 148 rests loosely upon the upper face of the disc 146 or may beseparated therefrom by a disc 149 of leather or other suitable friction material. The'ring 148 is provided with a drivingpin 150 adapted to engage one of the cross arms 151 of a winding reel or spool 152. Each spool 152 is provided with bushings 153 fitting loosely on its winding shaft 142.

In actual operation, the winding shafts 142 are continuously rotateo at a speed suffi-v cient to. wind up the reed as delivered from the refolding and repressing inechanism when the reed is beingwound upon the smallest diameter of the spool, andin fact the speed of the shaft 142 is usually slightly in excess of the requirements for the smallest diameter. The reels or spools 152 are thus rotated at the speed required to wind up the reed as it is deliveredthereto and the excess speed of the shaft142 is taken care of by and shown in detail "of themangle gear 168.

the slip between the driving disc 146 and the driving ring 148.

Each reel is thus driven independently of each other reel and at such speed as will take care of all of thereed delivered there to. As soon as one reel is filled, it may be removed and replaced by an empty reel without nterfering with the-operation of any of the other reels which are only partially tilled.

1 Wwersc mechanism.

We have also provided a traverse mechanism for laying the reed upon the spools, or reels, this mechanism comprising a traverse bar 155 having a plurality of guides 156 secured thereon and also" having plurality of guide arms 157 pivoted thereto. The guides 156 and guide arms 157 are mounted on brackets or plates 158 secured tothetraverse bar 155 and projecting at one side or the other of the bar and to different distances, so as to bring-the guides 156 in alignment with the corresponding refolding and repressing devices and so as to pivot the guide armsl57 at points closely adjacent to their associated guides 156.

Each guide arm 157 is formed at its free swinging end substantially as indicated in Fig. 26, being provided with an inverted lJ-shaped gnidingportion 159 open atuone edge on its lower side as indicated at 160 for convenient threading of the guide arm. A lug 161 retainsthe threaded reed in position and prevents unthreading thereof.

The traverse bar 155 is mounted upon upright supports 162 (Fig. 37) slida-ble in fixed bearings 163. Each support 162 is provided with a rack bar 164 engaged by. a pinion 165 mounted on a traverse shaft 166. The shaft 166 is rotatable in fixed bearings 167 (Fig. 26) and is provided at one end with a mangle or pin gear 168 36) which is engaged by a mangle pinion 16$) mounted on a drive shaft 170 (F ig. 1).

The shaft 170 is rotatable at one end in asubstantially fixed bearing 171 and is provided adjacent the bearing with a worm gear 172- cngaged by worm (not shown) on a worm shaft 173 connected by bevel gears 174 to the drive shaft 145 for the winding spindles.

i The mangle pinion shaft 170 at its opposite endh-as a limited sliding movement in a bearing 175, permitting the pinion to engage the pins 176 (Fig. 36,) of the mangle gear either on the inside or the outside of the pins, as is usual in such mechanism. The end of the shaft 170 is'receivedin a cam groove 177 (Fig. 36) which passes from the inside to theoutside of the row of pins 17 6 at a particular point 1n the circumference Continued rotation of the manglepinion shaft 170 thus causes alternate movement Dm'oing mechanism.

e will now briefly describe the driving mechanism by which the several parts of the machine are operated in correct time relation; 7 A motor. 180 (Fig. 2) is mounted in the lower part of the frame M and is provided with a driving pulley 181 connected by a-belt 182 to a pulley 183 on the main shaft 115 previously described. The belt 182 is loose on the pulleys 181 and 183 but may be tightened by the shipper mechanism best shown in Figs. 12 and 88.

A tightener pulley 184C (Fig. 12) is adjustably secured by a bolt 185 in a slot 186 at the end of an arm187 fixed to a shipper shaft'188. The shaft 188 is mounted in bearings 189 (Fig. 2) and is provided with shipper handles 190 at each end of the machine.

Each shipper handle is provided with a pawl 191 (Fig. 38) pivoted at 192 on the handle and adapted to engage a fixed ratchet '01 rack bar .193. A spring 194 actsto yieldingly move the pawl out of engaging position and a pm 195 1s mounted in each pawl 191 and extends upward ad]acent the end of the handle 190. A stop pin 196 may also be provided for each pawl.

hen the operator desires to start the machine, he may grasp either handle 190, pulling the same forwardto raise the tightener pulley 184 until the belt 182 is tight enough to rotate the pulley 183. At the same time he presses outward on the corresponding pin 195, locking the handle in the position to which it has been moved.

NVhen it is thereafter desired .to stop the machine, the operator merely pulls either handle toward him enough to free the engaged pawl 191, which immediately springs away from engaging position, after which the handles will move freely away from the operator by gravity to loosen the belt 182 and stop the machine. 7

The driving shaft 145 is connected by bevel gears 197 (Fig. 11) which in turn is connected by bevel gears 199 tothe shaft 200 upon which the lower presser roll is mounted. A gear 201- on the; shaft 200 engages a gear 202 onthe shaft, 203 on which the upper presser roll 71 is mounted.

. Theshaft 145' is also provided with bevel gears 210 (Fig. 2) through which a verti-' cal shaft 211 is continuously rotated. At its upper end, the shaft 211 is connected by bevel gears 212 (Fig. 26) to a shaft 213' which drives the repressing roll 121 (Fig. 27).

The gear ratios and roll diameters are preferably so proportioned that the pressing rolls 70 and 71 will deliver the reed at a very slightly greater speed when the reed is taken uprby the repressing rolls 121 and 122. This difference in speed is very slight, but is. suflicient to prevent undue strain being placed upon thegummed'fiber during the drying operation, at which, time it is more easily torn or broken. 30

Stmmary.

Having described the general operation of our improved machine for making fiber reed, and having described the I different parts ofgthe .machine in full detail, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof. will be readily understood. Our improved machine, due to its combination of a succession of co-operating mechanisms, has been found very successful in commer-' cial' use in producing large quantities of fiber reed with very great rapidity.

Vhile the different mechanism included in our machine in themselves possess many 5 novel features, the success, of the machinealso depends very largely upon the performance of a series of different operations in a definite timed relation, and this is particularly true of the unfolding, gumming, drymu ing and refolding operations; 7 V

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do. not wislrto be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we claim is: V

1. A machine for making fiberreed hav ing, in combination, a folding device, means for pressingthe folded fiber, an unfolding device, means to-gum the unfolded fiber, a refolding device, and a repressing mechanism. V V

2. A machine for making fiber reed having, in combination, a folding device, means for pressing the folded fiber, an unfolding device, means to gum the unfolded fiber, a refolding device spaced sufficiently distant from the gumming means to provide a clear stretch for partially drying the gummed fiber before refolding, and a repressing mech- 32 anism said machine having provision for' partial drying ofrthe gummed fiber before refolding. V i V V V 3. A machine for making fiber reed having,- in combination, a foldingdevice, means 1 5 for pressing the folded fiber, an unfolding device, means to gum the unfolded fiber, a

refolding device, 'anda repressing mecha- V n1sm, s,a1d gumming means and said refoldng device belng spacedsubstantially apart 13o folding device,

to permit partial drying of the gummed fiber before refolding.

4. A machine for making fiber reed having, in combination, a folding device, means for pressing the folded fiber, an unfolding device, means to gum the unfolded fiber, a refolding device, and a repressing mechanism the gummed fiber being drawn from the gumming means to the refolding device through a path of a substantial length, said path being suificiently long to permit partial drying of the gummed fiber before refolding.

5. A machine for making fiber reed having in combination, a folding device, means for pressing the folded fiber, an unfolding device, means to gum the unfolded fiber, a refolding device, a repressing mechanism, and means for spooling the fiber reed as it is delivered from the refolding and repressingmechanism. 7

6. In a machine for making fiber reed, a a pressing and sizing device, an unfolding device operative on the folded but ungummed fiber, and means to thereafter gum the unfolded fiber.

7. A machine for making fiber reed which comprises a preliminary longitudinal folding device, means to break down the fiber at the folds and to size the folded fiber to uniform Width, and means to thereafter unfold, means to gum, and means to refold said fiber.

8. A machine for making fiber reed having,

nisms substantially spaced from said first mentioned mechansims toward the other end of the machine to provide a clear stretch for partially drying the gummed fiber before refolding.

10. In a machine for making fiber reed, a

folding device, a pressing and sizing device, an unfolding device operative on the folded but ungummed fiber, means to thereafter gum the unfolded fiber, and means to remove surplus gum therefrom.

11. In a machine for making fiber reed, a folding device, pressing mechanism and unfolding mechanism, gumming mechanism, and means to remove surplus gum from the gummed fiber, said latter means comprising a scraper, and a guide rod engaging the ungummed face of the fiber and deflecting said fiber against said scraper.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto aflixed our signatures.

EARL F. BALDXVIN. FRANK E. WOODS. 

